Modeling and Control of Automotive Powertrain Systems

Overview

Did you know that approximately 40% of the value of a car nowadays resides in the electronics and software? Sure, part of that is the entertainment system. But most of it deals with the control and diagnostics required to meet emissions, safety and drivability requirements! Federal regulations and the green economy are driving the development of advanced engine technology to meet the ever-increasing demands for lower emissions. These systems are fundamentally described by nonlinear, hybrid (mixed continuous and discrete time) mathematical models, and require sophisticated control designs for their proper functioning. Faculty in the Control Laboratory have partnered with engineers at Ford, GM, Toyota, and Eaton to contribute practical solutions to air-fair fuel ratio control, variable cam timing, regulation of TWC oxygen storage for ultra-low emissions, direct-injection spark ignition engines, power management systems for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), and many other advanced powertrain features.